The main difference between apc and upc connectors is the fiber endface.
Apc fiber connector.
Considered by some to be the modern replacement of the sc connector.
It is commonly used with both single mode optical fiber and polarization maintaining optical fiber fc connectors are used in datacom telecommunications measurement equipment and single mode lasers they are becoming less common displaced by sc and lc connectors.
An optical fiber connector terminates the end of an optical fiber and enables quicker connection and disconnection than splicing the connectors mechanically couple and align the cores of fibers so light can pass.
The fc connector is a fiber optic connector with a threaded body which was designed for use in high vibration environments.
These connectors also feature a low 0 25 db connector to connector typical loss.
The difference is that single mode lc connectors have it in apc upc polishing type while multimode lc fiber connectors have upc polishing only.
However significant insertion loss can result when mating to different styles and because of this we recommend that fc apc connectors be mated only with other fc apc connectors.
Because of the angle the reflected light does not stay in the fiber core but instead leaks out into the cladding.
Like illustrated in the following picture.
Apc connector is a type of fiber connector that minimizes backreflection due to a 5 to 15 angle polish applied to end faces.
With upc connectors any reflected light is reflected straight back towards the light source.
Its introduction was less successful in part due to initially high license fees.
Sc apc connector is commonly used in applications that are much more sensitive to return loss and requires for high precision signal such as fttx fiber to the x video delivery through rf signal wdm wavelength division multiplexing applications and analogue equipment like cctv.
What are apc connectors.
The best feedback examples from my previous blog came from people experienced with fttx and radio frequency rf applications.
The uses of apc connectors.
Another more obvious difference is color.
The advance in analogue fiber optic technology has driven demand for it to replace more traditional coaxial cable copper.
Apc connectors feature a fiber endface that is polished at an eight degree angle.
Each connector package includes a fiber connector cap and plastic boot.
Differences between upc and apc connector.
So the light in apc connectors does not return to the source.
They have a slight curvature for better core alignment.
So why then is the apc connector so important in fiber optics.
In digital applications there is no issue using pc and apc connectors as light can get though in an on off manner.
Upc connectors are not exactly flat however.
Upc connectors are polished with no angle but apc connectors feature a fiber end face that is polished at an 8 degree angle.
Better connectors lose very little light due to reflection or misalignment of the fibers.
With an apc connector the angle directs the light off into the side walls of the fiber where it is absorbed by the fiber jacket.